“We just want to be back in our homes,” said a Lebanese man who, like many others in the latest round of fighting, has to flee.

Under a new “ethnic unity” law, Mandarin Chinese must now be the language of teaching. Parents must guide their children to love the Communist Party. Neighborhoods should be mixed.

War in the Middle East has left Italy’s prime minister in a domestic bind, presenting her with one of the biggest challenges of a previously stable tenure.

Strikes on Ukrainian energy systems have tripled this winter. Continuous repairs and Western aid staved off a total breakdown.

Global oil prices surged despite pledges from the United States and other countries to release reserves. Airstrikes shook Beirut and Tehran, and more ships were attacked in the Persian Gulf.

China’s plan to raise pensions for farmers by less than $3 a month prompted rare criticism from lawmakers about the country’s threadbare social safety net.

British officials told Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Peter Mandelson’s close ties to Jeffrey Epstein before Mr. Mandelson was appointed U.S. ambassador.

U.S. officials say the country’s weapons have been diminished, slowing its attacks on Gulf nations and Israel. Iran may also be holding some weapons in reserve in case the conflict is prolonged.

The Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil, is all but closed as war in the Middle East expands. A British agency said three ships were hit by unidentified projectiles in or near the strait.

Trump’s agenda for the high-stakes meeting remains unclear to Beijing, Chinese analysts say, while American executives say they haven’t been invited along.